"Dancing is the vertical expression of a horizontal desire, legalised by music."
Probably the UK's most high-energy contra dance band, Vertical Expression is what happens when you take two English ceilidh musicians on fiddle and melodeon and put them with a guitar and double bass rhythm section with a love of bluegrass and gypsy jazz, throw in some old time music and foot percussion, a bit of French-Canadian one-row box, a few Irish fiddle tunes, some Django Reinhardt-style guitar, a bit of creativity and a lot of energy and fun...
Recent and upcoming gigs:
2017
2018
- Saturday 27th January 2018 Poynton Ceilidhs, Poynton Civic Hall with caller Andrew Swaine
- Saturday 17th February 2018 Sheffield Contra Dances, Heeley Hall, Birkdale School, Sheffield, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Friday 13th April 2018 Unicorn Ceilidhs, Baldock, Herts. (caller TBC)
- Friday 20th April 2018 Alcester Contra, St Benedict's School, Alcester, Warwickshire, with caller Jen Morgan
- Saturday 12th May 2018 London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Adam Hughes
- 25th-28th May 2018 Chippenham Folk Festival
- 3rd-10th August 2018 Sidmouth FolkWeek with callers Rachel Wallace and Lynne Render
- August Bank Holiday: Shrewsbury Folk Festival, exact date TBC
- 7th-9th September 2018: Bromyard Folk Festival, details TBC
- Saturday 13th October 2018 London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Kathy Anderson (USA)
- Saturday 27th October 2018 Leeds Contra,St Chad's hall, Leeds (caller TBC)
- Saturday 3rd November 2018 Hawk Green FDC, St Peter's Parish Centre, Hazel Grove, with caller Geoff Cubitt
Vertical Expression are:
Charley Roberts - fiddle
Ian Roberts - melodeons and feet
Ian Benton - guitar
Margaret Benton - double bass